Which do you prefer, Harry Potter or A Series of Unfortunate Enents?

I can't pick. But I do like Harry Potter a little more.

Harry Potter, definitely. I've read all the books numerous times, and when I get my newest book on release day, I literally squeal and dance.

Series of Unfortunate Events, I've only read the first four. Once each. I'll get to the other ones eventually, but I don't feel compelled.

I'll be heartbroken once Book Seven comes out and it'll be all over with the shouting. :(

I don't really think the two are comparable - it's more like asking "Which sort of fantasy do you prefer, Tolkien or Edward Gorey?"

They certainly are completely different types of books, ellaminnowpea. Nonetheless, I greatly prefer Harry Potter. I've read and own all the Unfortunate Events books, but I've read my Harry Potter books so many times I've nearly memorized all 6. And, like punkypower, I buy the book at midnight and can't contain my excitment, then I read until I've finished because I can't sleep with an unread Harry Potter book in my lap.

ASOUE left me pretty unimpressed...after you read a couple of them it seems to be more of the same. I got through the first 5 -- barely.

I read the first four when they first came out, and got sick of them. The semi-sadistic nature kind of put me off. You know, the whole "these kid's parents died and now they get to be shuffled from one shitty place to the next" bit, got kinda old kinda quick. Plus the constant breaks in the narrative to define words that the author thinks the reader might not know. Thats not part of a writing style, thats stupidity. It pulls the reader out of the story by breaking narrative, and we have dictionaries for a reason. Kids should learn to use them, not learn that they can expect the author to define any words they might not know, which, in effect is what stuff like this does.

I've only read The Bad Beginning, and it certainly didn't inspire me to read more. The constant vocabulary lessons were extremely tedious. So Harry Potter wins easily.

Unfortunately, Series of Unfortunate Events

LOL! That's fortunate!

And it matches your moniker!

Harry Potter, definitely. I read the first book and I saw the movie (which I know isn't the same), but I never felt COMPELLED to read the rest of them, much to my sister's dismay. Harry Potter, on the other hand, is a completely different story. I can read the books 20+ times and still enjoy them every time I read them.

I've never actually read one of the Series of Unfortunate Events books, although I have one in my TBR pile. I do love the Harry Potter books though and find it hard to believe I could like the Snickett books as much. I'll have to see.

Harry Potter, hands down! We had the audio book versions of the first two Lemony Snickett books on a long car trip, and I finally apologized to my kids and said we had to turn them off -- the unending gloom was too much for me! (I think it was exacerbated by the deliciously unctuous reader,Tim Curry.) The writing was good, and I understood what he was trying to do with it, but I couldn't live in that emotional world, even in parody.

There's also the fact that all the ASOUE books are all the same plot, with the same care-taker (the incompetent lame jerk-off). Not to mention the fact that they are in completely different genres within kid's/YA lit.

I have to agree with those who prefer HP, although I confess I have just read my first Lemony Snicket book (and will be going to the library for more, in hopes that they get better). I found the first one really simple - I was expecting the huge, convoluted plots of HP and instead there was just one, fairly simple straightforward plot that ended quickly. I know these are kids books, but I was still surprised. I too was annoyed by the breaks to define words - at first it was funny and charming, but once I realized it was going to be a constant feature, I really hated it.

Still, I am continuing on, based on a previous poster's comment likening these to Edward Gorey, whom I love. I have hope!

Harry Potter, hands down. I agree with those who said the SOUE books are all basically the same plot. I think I made it through 3 of them and just couldn't take the gloom and predictability anymore - oh, Count Olaf is after them and none of the dim adults believe them and the orphans will have to use their skills to save themselves. Once was fun and interesting, but then it got tiresome. Perhaps they changed towards the end of the series, but I just didn't want to wade through the rest of them to get there.

#7 Zoe - I completely agree about the tedious vocab lessons! The first few in the first book were novel, but then it just went on and on.

Harry, by far.

Though in Unfortunate Events, I love hearing the "... which here means..." :)

I agree that Harry Potter is definitely better. SOUE never got me to return and keep reading, but the kids sure like them.

Harry Potter by far.

Maybe I'm just too much of a "happy" person but I could never enjoy a series that's whole point is it's title, A Series of Unfortunate Events. It maybe funny once in a while in a story, but not this never ending cycle. I never made it far in the series.

Harry Potter is definately my favorite series, J.K. Rowling is amazing!

Though I confess, I have also read and liked SOUE, they do get less predictable toward the end of the series.

20, BigBookworm - You're right, they do get less predictable as they go. I am glad I stuck with the series despite my initial lackluster impression of the first couple books. I have really enjoyed The Austere Academy, The Ersatz Elevator, and The Vile Village. I am moving on to The Hostile Hospital now. I think the introduction of an overarching mystery - the whole VFD thing, which is quite curious - really helped the series.

Harry Potter, hands down.

My kid is only 7 - just learning to read. We don't care for "series of unfortunate events" at all. And my child only has gotten to hear the first Potter book, but we love it. Nice wide-eyed attitude. Not overly sophisticated.

Harry Potter is better. It's not all bad things and depressing. Plus, the last book doesn't leave you with more questions and no answers.

To be frank, I like them both equally. I understand why people do not like The Series of Unfortunate Events, for it is very depressing, but I just loved how the siblings don't forget the hope in life and continue to move on. I like how the villains do not truly lose in the end, and that there is more depression in the world for the siblings to go through and endure. For Harry Potter, I love the books because of the characters, and just how interesting it is, with just enough sadness and misery not to thwart the main plot of the story. I did NOT like the ending much however, Luna Lovegood was not included but NEVILLE LONGBOTTOM WAS?

-faint-

I love both series they are both fantastic!!! A Series of Unfortunate Events is probably what I would choose for when I am in "thinking mode" because there are a lot of
long words and confusing parts. Harry Potter is a lot easier to read but once you get to the last book it can be a bit heavy. I kind of have big crazes which last for about a week and reread 3 or 4 of the books, listen to audiobooks, watch the movie (and in the case of Harry Potter) play the game. I have been a fan of both since I was about 5, when I listened to both on audio tape. but at the moment if I had to say I would choose Harry Potter although I don't like the end part where they're all married and have kids.